HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Behind a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team opened the 2024-25 campaign with an exciting 63-58 road win at Hofstra on Monday evening. 

The Pioneers finished with three double-digit scorers, as Ny'Ceara Pryor led the way with 21 points. The outstanding junior also chipped in seven assists and six steals. Emma Kirby was next on the Pios with her second career double-double, tallying 16 points and 10 boards. 

Dianne Crespo López and Carmen Williams both recorded stellar debuts tonight. López poured in 10 points and three rebounds in her collegiate debut, while Williams sank a pair of crucial 3-pointers late, playing a team-leading 34 minutes. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 1-0
Hofstra: 0-1
 
Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 21 points, 7 assists, 6 steals
Emma Kirby: 16 points, 10 rebounds
 
How It Happened:
Kirby kicked things off with a layup in the opening possession. Then the start of today's game started off close with the Pride up 7-6 midway through the first. SHU evened the score at 11-all by the 2:37 mark before going up a quarter-high six, 17-11, with 1:21 left after López sank a triple for her first career basket. Hofstra scored the next three points to cut the Pios' lead to 17-14 heading into the second. 

Hofstra built on its run at the end of the first to take a 24-21 advantage through 5:47 in the second. The margin hovered around four for the remainder of the quarter with a late run by SHU to send the game into the halftime tied at 30-30. Down 30-26 in the final minute, López sank a jumper to trim the deficit in half before a Ciara Brannon bucket knotted the score. 

After starting the second half, with an 8-2 run, the Pride were up 38-32 by the 7:02 mark of the third. SHU was ready with an answer, scoring 12 straight to swing the margin to a 44-40 lead for the visitors. Pryor and Kirby fueled the run with six points each. A two and a 3-pointer from Hofstra gave it the lead back going into the fourth. 

Things looked bleak for the Pioneers at the start of the fourth, as a 9-0 surge by the Pride gave them a game-high 10-point advantage, 54-44. But being back-to-back champions has taught this team how to weather adversity and win games late. 

Back-to-back triples from Williams sparked a run for the Pioneers, as Pryor and Kirby buckets followed to even the score at 54-all with 3:34 left. Hofstra scored the next two points to take the lead, but it was its last. Three straight free throws and a Pryor floater gave SHU a 59-56 advantage with under 44 seconds remaining. 

Like all seasoned teams do, the Pioneers hit their free throws late to seal the win. An Amelia Wood offensive board on a free throw iced the game with six seconds left, as SHU started the season 1-0. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers hit the road on Thursday, Nov. 7, to battle ACC foe Boston College at the Eagles' Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.